The National Rifle Association Annual Meeting (NRAAM) has concluded after a somewhat contentious members meeting.  Of course, the media is salivating at the idea of problems in the NRA.  Is the NRA perfect?  The answer is no, but then neither is any other organization.  The NRA is about a million times better than Congress, for example.

Here are the facts that gun owners have to face.  The NRA, private gun ownership and the Second Amendment have been under the heaviest, well-funded, well organized attacks in history and the attacks are likely to get worse.  People like Michael Bloomberg, George Soros and others have it in for the NRA and you and me.  Michael Bloomberg is attacking the NRA’s tax status.  The NRA is a 501(c)4.  The ISRA, ACLU, and AARP are among similar organizations with a 501(c)4 status.  The reason the ISRA is a 501(c)4 is because the IRS assigned that status to us.  Bloomberg is trying to make it a big deal not because he can win, but because he wants to create dissension among the members and the public, as well as cost the NRA a ton of money.

The NRA was founded in New York in 1871 and is a New York corporation.  The slimy Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, and his slimy Attorney General, Letitia James, are called left wingers in polite society.  In a not such polite society, they are just plain old communists.

Gabby Gifford is busy fundraising and using these funds to splinter gun owners away from the NRA.  An example is Minnesota Gun Owners for Safety.  Their purpose is to allow the anti-gun main stream media to report there is dissension among gun owners.  This is a well-funded front group like the Moms and Everytown.  They are aimed at the general public who doesn’t understand gun ownership.  These are just a few examples of the attacks.

The flap over the internal situation at the NRA is being promoted by these groups and the main stream media to try to tear the NRA apart.  We are in a battle and fortunately we have two battle hardened leaders like Wayne LaPierre and Chis Cox in charge.  They are just what we need right now.  My advice to all those keyboard commandos is to stop attacking the NRA and attack the real enemy.  My answer to the cry for new leadership is that there is no one better qualified than Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox. 

While we are on the topic of leadership, I could not be more pleased with the choices for NRA President, First Vice President and Second Vice President.  I have been fortunate enough to sit on a Committee chaired by President Carolyn Meadows and with First Vice President Joseph L. Cotton.  I personally know Second Vice President Willis Lee.  There are no finer people on the planet than these folks.  Just because the NRA is in good hands does not mean they can do it alone.  We all must stand with them to make this perilous time result in a good outcome.

The ISRA had a membership booth at the NRAAM.  It was great to see everyone who stopped by.  We have registered for a booth in Nashville, Tennessee for 2020.  Nashville is a little smaller so if you are going to attend, get your housing lined up now.  Bring your walking shoes.  I walked 18.2 miles in Indianapolis.  As I said before, it is the world’s largest family reunion.

While at the NRAAM, I talked to several policemen who were at the convention center.  The police requirements were so great that dozens of surrounding departments had to supply officers to watch over the attendees.  They told me that crime was down in Indianapolis and the suburbs.  This always happens when the NRAAM comes to town.  A few years ago, I was in our booth in Nashville on Sunday afternoon.  Three Nashville police officers came by to see what we were all about.  I asked them why they weren’t out fighting crime and corruption.  They laughed and told me that crime was down everywhere in Nashville, in some areas as much as 75%.  In Indianapolis there were 6125 incidents reported and exactly none involved NRA members.  One drunken protester was arrested for throwing his cell phone at President Trump.  There were probably at least 100,000 guns, or more, there and crime was down.  Hmmm, maybe the City of Chicago should ask the NRA to hold the Annual Meeting on the Southwest side.  Just a thought.

The anti-gunners took it on the chin on Tuesday.  New York City (NYC) asked the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to stay the challenge to the draconian NYC gun laws mounted by the Second Amendment Foundation.  SCOTUS said NO!

Meanwhile, another New York State law, known as the SAFE Act, had the charges brought against a New York citizen who supposedly violated the SAFE Act.  The New York Supreme Court dismissed the charges.

The ISRA will be at the Belleville Gun & Knife Show this weekend, May 4^th & 5^th.  Bill Potts and I will present legislative updates at 10:00am and 1:30pm on Saturday, and at 10:00am on Sunday.  Please stop by and see us at the Belle-Clair Expo Center!

Thanks for being a member.

Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org

Saturday, May 4, 2019
Range Work Day
Illinois Concealed Carry Renewal Class
Handgun Training

Sunday, May 5, 2019
Black Powder League
Black Powder Confederation Rifle/Pistol
3 Gun Combat Pistol League
Joe Brown Highpower League Neumann Match

Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Bench Rest League
F-Class Rifle League
Paper & Steel League

Saturday, May 11, 2019
Woolard Brothers Memorial Highpower Rifle Tournament
Firearm Skills & Drills

Sunday, May 12, 2019
ISRA Marksmanship League
ISRA Marksmanship .22 Challenge

Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Fundamentals of Intuitive Defensive Handgun – Rob Pincus
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Bench Rest League
F-Class Rifle League
Intuitive Defensive Carbine – Rob Pincus

Saturday, May 18, 2019
New Shooter Highpower Rifle Competition Clinic
MTG Intro to Defensive Pistol

Sunday, May 19, 2019
ISRA Bullseye Match & Combat Match
MTG Mastering the Revolver

Illinois Gun & Trade Shows

Premiere Firearms Auction
Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Auction Company
Dates: May 3-5, 2019

Crown Point Gun Show
Crown Point, IN – Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 4-5, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Belleville Gun & Knife Show
Belleville, IL – Belle-Clair Expo Center
Dates: May 4-5, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show
St Charles, IL - Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: May 12, 2019
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $5.00

New Berlin Gun Show
New Berlin, IL – Sangamon County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 18-19, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

McHenry County Gun Show
Woodstock, IL – McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: May 19, 2019
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $5.00

Kankakee 1 Day Gun Show
Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Date: June 1, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00
Admission: $6.00

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